Stogie News: IPCPR Trade Show Preview (Part 1)
9 Aug 2010
The International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers (IPCPR) Trade Show opens in New Orleans today. The annual show is arguably the most important event of the year in the cigar industry, serving as an opportunity for cigar makers to show cigar retailers their latest offerings and make sales for for the upcoming year.
While selling cigars is still the primary purpose of the show, these days most of the news out of the trade show revolves around the new cigars that nearly every cigar maker releases. Here is part one of our comprehensive list of the already-announced new cigars set to debut at the show:
Altadis — Industry giant Altadis USA has revealed a few of the cigars it will be unveiling at the trade show this year. Included is a Honduran-made H. Upmann Sungrown blend (featuring an Ecuadorian wrapper with Nicaraguan and Honduran fillers), an Omar Ortez Originals Puro Maduro (using a San Andres maduro wrapper around Maduro binder and filler tobaccos), Warlock (made by Omar Ortez utilizing an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, and Nicaraguan and Dominican fillers), and an A. Turrent Triple Play Puro Maduro (also using a San Andres maduro wrapper with Connecticut broadleaf binder and filler tobaccos from Nicaragua, San Andres, and Honduras). The company will also debut a new Romeo y Julieta Museum Edition Humidor featuring the artwork of artist Charles Fazzino, and a new dual-flame torch.
Padrón — One year after the debut of the Padrón Family Reserve 45, the Nicaraguan cigar masters are introducing the new Family Reserve No. 46. A trunk-pressed smoke, the 46 (5.5 x 56) features well-aged Nicaraguan tobacco and will cost around $25 per cigar.
Rocky Patel — Prolific cigar maker Rocky Patel will be officially debuting his 15th Anniversary cigar utilizing an Ecuadorian wrapper and Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. Available in four box-pressed sizes, the blend will cost $8 to $12 each.
E.P. Carillo — Ernesto-Perez Carrillo, creator of the famous La Gloria Cubana line, will debut his regular production blend available in six sizes. Also expected is a new annual limited edition release that follows up on his 2009 Edición Inaugural release.
CAO — After the success of the CAO La Traviata at last year’s show, CAO is debuting a maduro version featuring a Connecticut-grown broadleaf wrapper. According to CAO President Tim Ozgener, the Maduro will be priced similarly to the natural blend at around $5 each.
Toraño Family — Reflecting its new focus and new name, the Toraño Family Cigar Company will be bringing three new cigars to market this year. The Master is a joint effort by Charlie Toraño and longtime master roller Felipe Sosa using an all-Nicaraguan blend. Single Region by Toraño (MSRP $6.50-$6.95) features Jalapa tobacco all from one farm and is being rolled at the Fabrica de Tabacos Raices Cubanas factory in Honduras, which also makes cigars for Illusione, Alec Bradley, and Padilla. The third line, Brigade, features an Ecuadorian wrapper and will sell in bundles of 16 for around $2.50 per stick.
Camacho — Camacho makes cigars for Room 101 and will be introducing the new Room 101 Conjura. The full-bodied blend features a Honduran rosado wrapper, Honduran binder, and Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers. Limited to just 12,500 cigars for each of the blend’s four sizes, it will sell for $7-10 each.
La Flor Dominicana — Litto Gomez’s La Flor Dominicana will be adding a chisel size to its relatively new Air Bender line, and possibly another smaller ring gauge size. Also expected is a new full-flavored maduro Salomon.
Ashton — Ashton is adding a third version of its Aroma de Cuba line: the Aroma De Cuba Mi Amor. Made by Don Pepin Garcia, the blend uses a Cuban-seed Mexican wrapper around aged Nicaraguan tobaccos.
AVO — Avo cigars is introducing a new full line called Avo Heritage. Made in four sizes (Churchill, Toro, Robusto, and Short Robusto) it utilizes the same Ecuadorian sun-grown wrapper as the Avo 2009 Compañero along with a Dominican binder and a blend of five different Dominican fillers.
La Palina — La Palina, Bill Paley’s new line, is introducing it’s regular production Family Blend in New Orleans. It comes in four sizes, Pasha (a Churchill with an unfinished foot), Babe (a robusto), Alison (a torpedo), and Little Bill (a perfecto). The blend uses a Costa Rican binder with Honduran and Nicaraguan fillers. Pasha and Babe use a Costa Rican wrapper, while Alison and Little Bill utilize an Ecuadorian wrapper and additional ligero fillers.
Revolution Cigars — Paradigm 262-maker Revolution Cigars will introduce a new, milder line called Ideology. The cigar will feature a Nicaraguan Habano Rosado wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, and a filler blend of Nicaraguan, Mexican, and Dominican tobaccos. Revolution cigars is also adding a 4-inch by 60 ring gauge vitola to the Paradigm line called the “4SIXTY.â€
Pinar del Rio — Abe Flores’ Pinar Del Rio is re-launching all of their standard lines, which have been re-blended and will now be sold in boxes of 20. Pinar del Rio has also reduced its MSRP by 10% across the board this year. The main focus at the show, however, will be the launch of the new line: 1878 Cubano Especial Maduro. It will come in eight vitolas and feature a Brazilian Arapiraca maduro wrapper, Dominican criollo ’98 binder, and a filler blend of Nicaraguan and Dominican tobaccos.
Joya de Nicaragua — Joya de Nicaragua is adding an additional size to its Dark Antaño line. “La Niveladora” will be a six-inch by 52 ring gauge box-pressed toro.
These are far from all the new releases, so check back after noon for part two of our IPCPR preview, which includes new cigars from Tatuaje, Illusione, La Aurora, and many others. Also be sure to check in regularly starting tomorrow for live updates throughout the day from the IPCPR Trade Show floor.
photo credit: IPCPR
Thanks for this great update. Looking forward to try some of these.